20 Days Uganda Wildlife Safari

The 20 Days Uganda Safari offers an intense exploration of Uganda, often referred to as the Pearl of Africa. This long Uganda safari takes you across the different parts of Uganda from East to the West while enjoying diverse experiences. Top places to explore on this itinerary include Kidepo Valley National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Mabamba Wetland, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bigodi Wetland, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Sipi Falls, Jinja, Pian Upe, and Kibale National Park.

The 20 Days Uganda safari includes game drives, boat cruises, cultural visits, chimpanzee tracking, rhino tracking, Sipi Falls hiking, whitewater rafting, golden monkey tracking, canoe rides, and gorilla trekking.

The Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Pick up from Hotel –Murchison Falls – Zziwa rhino trek with Ziwa expert

Day 2: Exhilarating game drive – Afternoon launch cruise on Victoria Nile

Day 3: Transfer to Kidepo National Park in a 4×4 safari car- Evening game drive

Day 4: Captivating game drive and Karamojong culture with a guide

Day 5: Morning game drive (day) -Transfer to Pian Upe game reserve

Day 6 Morning guided game drive in Pian Upe – Transfer to Sipi Falls

Day 7: Explore the scenic Sipi Falls – Hike Sipi waterfalls and coffee tour

Day 8: Transfer to Jinja – Visit Jinja city

Day 9: White water rafting with the experts onboard- Transfer to Kampala

Day 10: Transfer to Kibale National Park by car

Day 11: Chimpanzee tracking starting from Kanyanchu- Visit Bigodi swamp

Day 12: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP – Launch cruise (Explore Kazinga channel)

Day 13: Lion tracking with the expert- Depart for Ishasha -Afternoon game drive

Day 14: Game drive with a guide in Ishasha – Transfer to Bwindi National Park

Day 15: Mountain gorilla trekking with guide from Rushaga- visit Batwa Pygmies

Day 16: Golden monkey tracking with Mgahinga ranger guide

Day 17: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for canoeing and island tour with local expert

Day 18: Transfer to Lake Mburo – boat ride – Night game drive

Day 19: Nature walk in the park or game drive – Transfer to Kampala by car

Day 20: Mabamba wetland canoeing tour – Drop off at the EBB

The Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Pick up from Hotel – Transfer to Murchison Falls – Zziwa rhino trek with Ziwa Expert

Meet your Superfine safari guide at the hotel in Entebbe, and today, you will be heading to Murchison Falls National Park. You will access Murchison Falls Park on the Kampala-Gulu highway, about 6-7 hours. En route, expect to have a stopover at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, where you will engage in a guided trek to see rhinos in the wild.

Continue to Masindi for lunch and later drive to Kichumbanyobo gate to clear with the park officials. Leave the park gate and proceed to the top of Murchison waterfalls for a photography moment, then continue to the lodge for relaxation.

Accommodations to stay

• Budget: Fort Murchison Lodge
• Midrange: Pakuba Safari Lodge or Paraa Safari Lodge
• Luxury: Nile Safari Lodge

Day 2: Exhilarating game drive – Afternoon launch cruise at the bottom of the falls

Leave your safari lodge for a sunrise game drive through the Northern game tracks. You will spend about 2-3 hours as you explore varied wildlife, including warthogs, giraffes, elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, oribis, Jackson’s hartebeest, and many bird species.

You will drive back to have lunch at leisure and then proceed with an afternoon boat ride along the Victoria Nile. Expect to encounter basking Nile crocodiles, hippos, and aquatic bird species. At the base of the falls, don’t miss taking the best pictures and later return to have a leisurely time in your respective lodges.

Accommodations to stay

• Budget: Fort Murchison Lodge
• Midrange: Pakuba Safari Lodge or Paraa Safari Lodge
• Luxury: Nile Safari Lodge

Day 3: Transfer to Kidepo National Park in a 4×4 safari car- Evening game drive

Have breakfast, and after, you will meet a safari guide who will transfer you to Kidepo National Park. Enjoy the breathtaking landscapes in the Karamoja region, and once you have arrived at the park, you will check into the lodge for relaxation. Later, you will have the evening game drive through the vast savanna plains of Kidepo.

Accommodations to stay

• Budget: Kidepo Savanna Lodge
• Midrange: Adere Safari Lodge
• Luxury: Apoka Safari Lodge

Day 4: Captivating game drive and Karamojong culture with a guide

Start the new day with a delicious breakfast and later, continue with a guided game drive through Narus Valley. On a game drive, expect to spot many wildlife species, including lions, elephants, buffaloes, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, and abundant antelope families. Return from the game drive and relax, enjoy lunch, then in the afternoon, expect to explore more about the Karamojong cultures.

Accommodations to stay

• Budget: Kidepo Savanna Lodge
• Midrange: Adere Safari Lodge
• Luxury: Apoka Safari Lodge

Day 5: Morning game drive (day) -Transfer to Pian Upe Reserve

Set off from the wilderness camps or lodges and enjoy an early morning game drive. This is to let you see more wildlife in Kidepo, and then proceed to Pian Upe, one of the biggest reserves in Uganda.

Accommodations to stay

• Camping (tents)

Day 6 Morning guided game drive in Pian Upe – Transfer to Sipi Falls

After breakfast, proceed with a game drive and explore a range of wildlife in Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve. The Pian Upe Reserve is popular for wildlife such as elephants, zebras, antelopes, giraffes, and ostriches. After the game drive, expect to exit Pian Upe for Sipi Falls.

Accommodations to stay

• Lacam Lodge Sipi Falls
• Sipi Falls Lodge

Day 7: Explore the scenic Sipi Falls – Hike Sipi waterfalls and coffee tour

Leave your comfortable lodge or hotel for a guided hiking adventure to explore the Sipi waterfalls. Today, you have enough time to visit all three 3 waterfalls that make up the Sipi Falls, and they are found in their varied elevations. After the Sipi excursion, return to have lunch, and in the afternoon, you will have a great time exploring more about coffee farming in the nearby community.

Accommodations to stay

• Lacam Lodge Sipi Falls
• Sipi Falls Lodge

Day 8: Transfer to Jinja by road- Visit Jinja city

At leisure, enjoy breakfast and later, depart the Sipi area for Jinja. Arrive at Jinja early and have some time in this industrious town. The rest of the evening will be set aside for you to relax and share experiences.

Accommodations to stay

• Kingfisher Safaris Resort Hotel
• Jinja Nile Resort

Day 9: White water rafting with the experts onboard- Transfer to Kampala

Leave your lodge early in the morning to meet the experts who will take you through the safety guidelines for white water rafting. After the briefing, set off for the actual rafting adventure where you get a chance to conquer different grades on the Nile River. This will be a half-day excursion, and after, you will be transferred to Kampala.

Accommodations to stay

• Budget: Fairway Hotel Kampala
• Midrange: Protea Hotel Kampala
• Luxury: Kampala Serena Hotel

Day 10: Transfer to Kibale National Park by car

At leisure, you will have a delicious breakfast and then start your journey to Kibale. This will involve driving through Mityana-Fort Portal city for about 5-6 hours. En route, lunch will be had at Fort Portal, and then you continue along Kamwenge road to Kibale, home to over 13 primate species, including over 1500 chimps.

Accommodations to stay

• Budget: Isunga Lodge or Chimpanzee Guesthouse
• Midrange: Turaco Treetops or Primate Lodge
• Lunch: Kyaninga Lodge or Papaya Lake Lodge

Day 11: Chimpanzee tracking starting from Kanyanchu- Visit Bigodi swamp

Catch up with a briefing on Kibale chimpanzee tracking regulations and allocation of park ranger guides. This will be done at Kanyanchu Tourist Center by the park official, and after that, expect to begin your trek at around 8:00 am. The morning chimpanzee tracking adventure will take about 2-4 hours and includes one hour for a close encounter with chimpanzees.

At Kibale, you will be visiting mainly already habituated chimpanzee communities. About 4 communities have been fully habituated in this Park, and what is amazing is that you can also enjoy sights of other primates that live here.

In the afternoon, expect to have a guided walk through Bigodi swamp and keep an eye on the varied primates and birds. More than 138 bird species inhabit Bigodi plus diverse primates including the blue monkeys, baboons, and colobus monkeys.

Accommodations to stay

• Budget: Isunga Lodge or Chimpanzee Guesthouse
• Midrange: Turaco Treetops or Primate Lodge
• Lunch: Kyaninga Lodge or Papaya Lake Lodge

Day 12: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP – Launch cruise (Explore Kazinga channel)

Begin your bright day with a hefty breakfast, and after, you will continue to Queen Elizabeth National Park. A stopover will be made at the new Kikorongo Equator monument for you to take photos. Continue to the park for you to check in the safari lodge, enjoy lunch, and later, catch up with the Kazinga channel boat cruise. Expect to find huge concentrations of hippos, crocodiles, and aquatic birds.

Accommodations to stay

• Budget: Bulbul Safari Lodge or Simba Camp
• Midrange: Buffalo Lodge or Enganzi Game Lodge
• Luxury: Elephant Plains or Mweya Safari Lodge

Day 13: Lion tracking with the expert- Depart for Ishasha -Afternoon game drive

Lion tracking offers you a lifetime opportunity not just to observe but to have a deep understanding of lions and their behaviors. The lions are tracked using devices, making it easier to trace them, unlike normal game drives. Other wildlife species and birds will also be spotted, making it a memorable game viewing experience.

After the long lion tracking session, you will return and lunch will be served. Relax a little, and next, expect to be transferred to the Ishasha sector for an afternoon game drive. While in the Ishasha sector, you can search for the tree-climbing lions, antelopes, birds, buffaloes, elephants, topis, and many other species.

Accommodations to stay

• Budget: Enjojo Lodge
• Midrange: Embogo Lodge or Ishasha Jungle Lodge
• Luxury: Ishasha Wilderness Camp

Day 14: Game drive with a guide in Ishasha – Transfer to Bwindi National Park

Enjoy a heavy breakfast at the comfort of your lodge, and after, meet the safari guide. Set off for the early morning game drive in a 4WD. The Ishasha game drive allows you to search for the tree-climbing lions, plus other wildlife such as elephants, topis, buffaloes, leopards, hyenas, waterbucks, bushbucks, and Uganda Kobs.

After exploring the Ishasha and its abundant animals, you will return to have lunch. Later, you will proceed to the Bwindi National Park to check into the lodge at the southern end of the Park. Getting to the Rushaga sector takes about 4 to 5 hours when driving.

Accommodations to stay

• Budget: Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge or Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
• Midrange: Rushaga Gorilla Lodge or Bweza Gorilla Lodge
• Luxury: Four Gorillas Lodge

Day 15: Mountain gorilla trekking with guide from Rushaga- visit Batwa Pygmies

Start your morning with a delicious breakfast and continue to Rushaga sector, where you will be briefed. Learn more about gorilla trekking guidelines, and later, you will be allocated an experienced guide. The park ranger guide will lead you through the search for the gorilla family assigned to you by the park official.

At Rushaga, expect to explore habituated families of mountain gorillas such as Rwigyi, Kutu group, Mishaya group, Kahungye, Nshongi, Bweza, Busingye, and Mucunguzi gorilla group. Each of these groups will be trekked by a maximum of 8 (eight) guests per day, and visitors have a maximum of 1 hour to spend face-to-face with these large primates.

After the great interaction with gorillas, begin walking back, and a gorilla trekking certificate will be provided to you. You will be at the lodge shortly for lunch, and in the afternoon, the local guide will lead you to the Batwa community to learn more about their traditions and cultures.

Accommodations to stay

• Budget: Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge or Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
• Midrange: Rushaga Gorilla Lodge or Bweza Gorilla Lodge
• Luxury: Four Gorillas Lodge

Day 16: Golden monkey tracking with Mgahinga ranger guide

Depart from Rushaga to Mgahinga National Park, where you will have a guided trek with a troop of golden monkeys. The Mgahinga golden monkey trek can last for about 2 to 4 hours, including an hour for you to explore how the golden monkeys behave. After, you will get back to relax at the lodge. Enjoy a leisurely lunch at the camp or lodge, and the entire evening will be available for you to relax.

Accommodations to stay

• Budget: Rushaga Gorilla Haven Lodge or Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
• Midrange: Rushaga Gorilla Lodge or Bweza Gorilla Lodge
• Luxury: Four Gorillas Lodge

Day 17: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for canoeing and island tour with local expert

After a hot cup of tea or coffee, leave Rushaga and today, you will be transferred to Lake Bunyonyi. Upon early arrival at Bunyonyi, you will check into your lodge and have a leisurely lunch. Catch up with the sunset boat or canoe ride through the scenic waters of Lake Bunyonyi. You will be amazed by the spectacular islands, terraced areas in the surrounding hillside, and, not to forget, the bird sightings, plus the sunset.

Accommodations to stay

• Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort
• Birdnest @Bunyonyi Resort

Day 18: Transfer to Lake Mburo – boat ride – Night game drive

Depart for Lake Mburo National Park, which is about 6-7 hours. Arrive early, and you will have your lunch in the lodge. Lake Mburo lies in Kiruhura and is home to diverse savanna wildlife, plus over 350 bird species. Today in the afternoon, you will engage in the 2 safari activities in Lake Mburo, that is, a boat ride and a night game drive.

The boat cruise/ride takes you on the search for the aquatic species, especially hippos, crocodiles, and birds. A night game drive will have you exposed to nocturnal animals, including leopards, and nightjar birds.

Accommodations to stay

• Budget: Leopard Rest Camp or Mburo Eagle’s Nest
• Midrange: Rwakobo Rock or Lake Mburo Safari Lodge
• Luxury: Kigambira Safari Lodge or Mihingo Lodge

Day 19: Nature walk in the park or game drive – Transfer to Kampala by car

Nature walks take you on a guided foot search for wildlife in Lake Mburo National Park. It is a perfect option for you to have a complete immersion in habitats that are hardly reached using a safari vehicle.

Game drives offer amazing encounters in Lake Mburo National Park and introduce you deeper into the park. A diverse array of wildlife can be spotted during the game drive, including zebras, Rothschild giraffes, topis, elands, warthogs, leopards, jackals, klipspringers, impalas, lions, buffaloes, and others.

After the morning sessions, you will be transferred to Kampala through the Masaka-Mbarara route. Expect an en-route stopover at the Equator for photography and later, continue up to the hotel in Kampala.

Accommodations to stay

• Budget: Fairway Hotel Kampala
• Midrange: Protea Hotel Kampala
• Luxury: Serena Hotel Kampala

Day 20: Mabamba wetland canoeing tour – Drop off at the EBB

Pick up early in the morning to catch up with a canoe tour on Mabamba Wetland. At Mabamba, the focus will be bird sighting, and while here, expect to find the elusive shoebill storks, great egrets, African jacanas, African fish eagle, blue swallow, and others.

After the birding expedition in Mabamba, you will return to have lunch and later, get dropped off at the Entebbe Airport. Today, you will be departing from Uganda through Entebbe International Airport, and it brings to an end the 20 Days Uganda safari.

End of Safari

Safari Inclusions

• Gorilla & golden permits
• All safari activities, excluding the optional one
• Accommodations and meals.
• Transport plus professional driver
• All park entry fees

Safari Exclusions

• Visas
• Passports
• Tipping/gratuities
• All optional activities
• Laundry
• Telephone expenses
• Alcoholic drinks, etc.